You can buy the Canary mini safety package opener tool for less than $7 right now. I use a slightly different version of this one nearly every day.
Made in Japan, Canary box openers are round-tipped plain edge or serrated non-sharp blades – depending on the model – that make quick work of ripping into all of those online orders that many of us receive all the time.
I use mine on boxes – they cut through the tape at the seams – and also all most of the different paper and plastic bags and envelopes that retailers now use for smaller items.
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My daily-use Canary tool has a pink handle and coated stubby blade. I’m not sure if the non-stick blade coating was worth it.
I bought the non-stick Canary tool, shown in this collection of random tools (see also Exotic Tools and Brands – Show and Tell), because it was the least expensive at the time. Right now it costs around $1 more than the uncoated version.
Canary says that the product cannot be used to break down carboard boxes, but I use mine on thinner carboard on occasion. On carboard, it scores deeply rather than cuts, and so you’ll still want a standard utility knife for recycling day. This tool is most effective on taped seams.
The Canary is compact and there are different bright colors available. I keep mine by the door, and it’s very rare that I have to grab something different to open up a box or mailer.
Learn More: Canary Cardboard Box Openers are a Great Utility Knife Alternative
This looks to be the full range or colors and styles.
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The longer version is bundled with a cover if you go with the orange handle. I don’t see much benefit in the longer length, unless you’re also opening letter envelopes. Both sizes have rounded tips and lanyard loops.
They’re all under $10, it’s just a matter of picking a size, handle color, or whether you want the non-stick coating or not.
Apparently I also purchased the long non-stick-coated Canary tool from Amazon back in 2018. I’m not sure what happened to it. If it ever turns up, I’m still going to continue using the shorter blade version that has been at my front door for years.
The price ranges from $6.40 to $8 depending on the style.
Canary Cutter Style Breakdown
Blue: non-serrated, uncoated, short blade
Red: serrated, uncoated, short blade
Pink: serrated, non-stick, short blade
Green: serrated, uncoated, long blade
Orange: serrated, uncoated, long blade
Yellow: serrated, coated, long blade
D3t
I bought 1 with the longer blade & cover. I agree, there’s no need for the extra length. Also, if the cover had a pocket clip it would be worth having, otherwise, it’s just unneeded.
fred
I like the longer length one for its being able to “saw up” cardboard and other semi-soft materials into shapes. The shorter one is more than enough for slicing through packing tape.
Aram
Yeah, I also use the long one to completely dismantle cardboard. Once you figure out the optimum technique (how much of a “slice” action for a given amount of downward pressure) for a given type of cardboard, it goes through faster than a razor.
The same company makes a retractable model that uses replaceable blades, which is my preferred version.
Dustin
As a heads up the longer ones all come with an orange cover, Not just the orange handled one
Stuart
Thanks! They don’t show it with the green or yellow handled versions, and so there was no indication things have changed.
CMF
I bought a single yellow and liked it. So I bought a 3 pack, also yellow (with anti stick)…none have the cover.
CMF
Just wanted to add, mine are old, more than 5 years ago. They current listing on Amazon do show the yellow ones with the orange cover, maybe something new.
Al-another-Al
Bought a stainless steel machined keychain fob a couple of years ago. Nobody bats an eye at security checkpoints. And, more importantly, I’ve not stabbed or cut myself with it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXYSFRS2
Don’t know anything about the maker other than they say veteran and made in USA. I needed to replace a tiny knife that I carried with my keys. This seemed less threatening. And looked purty.
Stuart
Was my post responsible for that? https://toolguyd.com/milspin-rhino-edc-pry-bar-tool/ I do see your comment there. =)
Al-another-Al
Yes. As much as you may not like it, you _are_ an influencer. 🙂
BobH
We have two (the longer version) for a long while. They work great.
bob
I bought the orange one…twice, lost the first one. I also bought the retractable version. They are great for opening boxes, but I’ve found that prefer the “stick of chewing gum” type with a razor blade. I’ve found they cut through boxes far easier and the blade retracts with a simple push.
I really want to like the Canary, but the “stick of gum” is far more effective, practical and cheaper.
CMF
Do you have a link or picture of what the “stick of chewing gum” type with a razor blade. I think I know what you are talking about, but just want to see if that is what I am thinking
fred
The ones I’m familiar with are from Garvey Not sure if they started the category – but there are lots of imitators
https://www.amazon.com/Garvey-Products-40417-Jiffi-Cutter/dp/B009T8VY36
mark w
They are like a metal sleeve rectangle the size of a stick of gum sorta. Not the safest but a cool and definitely useful old school form factor.
They seem to be called jiffie cutters. Two brands that come up are Garvey and cosco.
ULINE sells one just called an “economy box cutter. That has like a paper wrap over it and those styles are branded type items are really look like a stick of gum style.
Daniel
I have two of the serrated stubby Canary cutters. They are fantastic at opening boxes. Better than my pocket knife or a box cutter. It takes less dexterity to cut through tape and seams to attract less adhesive over time. I only wish the stubby came with a cover too.
When I can get my wife to use one of my fancy tools, you know it’s good!
Scott K
This looks really handy and more effective that what I typically use. It reminds me of the MakeDo safe saw – https://www.make.do/products/makedo-safe-saw
I keep an Olfa retractable knife with package opener in a kitchen drawer. It isn’t perfect but I’ve never cut myself or damaged the contents of a package with it the blunt side. I try to reserve the blade for breaking down cardboard – https://olfa.com/products/18mm-l-5-fiberglass-utility-knife?variant=37677785776311
Blocky
As Fred suggested, I use the long version for cutting cardboard into shapes – it’s very effective for freehanding curves with a jigsaw motion.
My daughter and I make tiny cardboard homes for her guinea pigs every other week.
Last year, we carved our pumpkins with it.
Doresoom
I have the shorter non-stick version, thanks to one of your previous posts about it. It’s now the default package opening tool at our house.
The blunt tip makes it safer for when my daughter wants to help open packages, plus that makes it less likely to damage anything in the package too.
EBT
Someone left a Westcott Ceramic Retractable in our office. Sat there for over a year in the pen bin and no one knew what it was. Soooo, I gave it a looksee and hmmm. Opens boxes in a jiffy, and the blade retracts (don’t let white plastic look fool you, ceramic blades are nasty sharp but chip if forced).
Its now in my stuff drawer.
I like that collection of gear you have there, Stuart. All handy and practical, like the Lupe/magnifier, the calipers, the tweezers,… That could be a “Kitchen+Drawer Bundle for Father’s Day!”
Rick
I use a regular Milwaukee utility knife with a ceramic blade for opening and dismantling boxes. That works really well for me.
I’m going to try the Canary cutter out of curiosity, but I’ll be mightily impressed if it is as effective as a ceramic blade in any scenario.
Jared
Tangential, other than it’s how I convinced myself I don’t need a specific package-opening tool, I learned about knife-holding technique where you put your index finger along the spine of the blade all the way to the tip to be very precise and to have control over the depth of cut. You basically just run your finger-tip along what you’re cutting. It works with most regular-sized pocket knives, but not if you have an especially long blade (i.e. your finger has to be long enough to reach the end).
If you EDC a knife, or just use one on packaging, it allows you to precisely score the tape without any risk to the box contents. Since there’s always a knife in my pocket, it makes more sense for me to do that than to go find a box-opening tool.
Stuart
They make rounded/blunt tip utility knife blades. https://toolguyd.com/safety-utility-knives/ I use Milwaukee’s now.
No, you don’t need a specialized box opener, but I’ve found it to be very convenient and far more compact. We get many packages, and so it sees near daily use. I keep the Canary by the front door and utility knife in a kitchen cabinet that’s out of reach of my kids.
I have been meaning to add a stick-on wall hook – this kind https://www.amazon.com/Command-Toggle-Hanging-Adhesive-Organizers/dp/B0751TRS6Y/?tag=toolguyd-20 – but for the time being it’s on the side rail of the shoe rack (which fills up quickly with incoming items). It’s quick and easy to use, and earned its price tag many times over.
When I’m home, my pockets are empty. Having an opener right by the front door is more convenient that walking to the kitchen, grabbing the utility knife, opening it, using it, closing it, and walking it back to its storage spot.
Necessary? No. Convenience? Yes.
Kilroy
Huge fan of these.
I bought the long Canary for myself after seeing it on here a few years ago, and have given away several as gifts.
They make great stocking stuffers and I have received a lot of compliments about the great gift idea; people are still talking about them years later (and mine still works just as well).
I appreciate the fact that it is very difficult to cut myself with the Canary, yet it opens boxes easily. The nonstick coating also seems to work very well (though occasionally pieces of tape will get stuck to it), without being a magnet for adhesive goo.
I’d agree that the shorter blade might be more convenient but have no complaints with the longer one.
Based on what I’ve bought from recommendations from this site, I’ve learned that (especially for non-knives) I like Japanese made blades and small hand tools like pliers.
fred
Hasegawa Cutlery Co. (AKA Canary) also make offset scissors for cutting cardboard
https://www.amazon.com/CANARY-Cardboard-Scissors-Blue-PS-6500H/dp/B000EFZKRY
Another Japanese brand (Allex – Hayashi Cutlery) make a version with spring opening. This is my favorite tool for opening clamshell packaging
https://www.amazon.com/ALLEX-Super-scissors-Stainless-Scissors/dp/B001M0E5YO
928'er
Just yesterday I was wishing I had pair of offset scissors. Ordered a pair of the ALLEX ones. Thanks for the tip.
I hate clamshell packaging by the way – always feel like I’m going to stab myself trying to cut them open. The only thing good about them is you can tell if they were previously opened and returned. Got a 12v Bosch battery from Amazon that way, so I immediately threw it on the charger. Sure enough, dead as a doornail!
Kilroy
Thanks. I haven’t used them recently (need to find them), but according to Amazon I’ve purchased both of those items, and I’m sure it was from recommendations on here.
I’ll dig those up the next time I have a clamshell package to open.
Tomd
Probably safer than my go to – open scissors and use one of the blades.
ElectroAtletico
For that prize I get a Doyle Utility Knife at Harbor Freight (lifetime warranty). It does the same job.
GC
This Slice ceramic blade cutter is magnetic and sits on our fridge. It was a gift and now we always give them to people. It works amazing and is convenient since it’s always on the fridge.
https://www.amazon.com/Slice-00100-Clamshell-Packaging-Scrapbooking/dp/B002OOVC84
Longtime Lurker
First: much respect and thanks to ToolGuyd and you regular commenters. Been lurking for maybe a decade now. You’ve been helpful to a time-starved dad here.
FYI to others: I bought the blue handle version, thinking these box openers were all the same. They are not. I looked back at the Amazon listing and can now see the difference: the blue handle version (currently) is named “Box Opener Safe” and I can NOT get it to cut hardly ANYTHING. Not cardboard, not paper the paper packaging it came in, not opening an envelope. (Safe!) In contrast, my order also contained the longer “Orange (Box Cutter With Case)” and it actually has serrated teeth that can cut something. Just received today so no full opinion/review of what the orange one can and can’t cut, but it can at least slice a piece of paper packaging, which the blue one can NOT.
I looked back at the pictures with the Amazon listing, and the blue-handle-short-blade listing pictures include a picture that shows a comparison side-by-side between the red-handle-short-blade and blue-handle-short-blade, and now I see that the red-handled one has the serrations BUT the blue-handled one does not. So I’m sharing this so others know there’s a difference; if this was in the post and I missed it, well it wouldn’t be the first time I overlooked something.
I see there’s a newer ToolGuyd post about the retractable handle version of these things. Another warning for folks: one of the comments in the Amazon listing claims that the retractable version is serrated only on one side of the blade, not the other, so isn’t as effective as the fixed blade versions. I can confirm neither that this matters nor even that it is even true, but thought I’d pass the info along.
Stuart
Sorry! Their selection and descriptions are a mess. I missed mentioning of the non-serrated tip style and added emphasis towards the start of the post and a new breakdown of the color and blade selection options at the end. There are more details in this older post – https://toolguyd.com/canary-cardboard-box-openers/ .
The non-serrated can still be used for breaking through packaging tape, but I definitely think the serrated is the better choice.
The retractable looks to be serrated on both edges. https://toolguyd.com/canary-retractable-package-opener/ All of these tools are only beveled on one face – I wonder if that’s what they meant.
Jay
My favorite package opener at present is over $200. The Spyderco PM2 in Magnacut is an amazing knife. It does so much more than just open boxes.
Walt Bordett
I have never found the need for a dedicated box opener. I just use my thumb and index finger on the sides of the blade in my SAK such that only 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the blade protrudes below my fingers. I run the blade through the sealing tape seams with my fingers controlling the depth of the blade into the seam. Try it. YMMV.